Xinhua, Apr 14, 2011

VIENTIANE, Laos -- Laos began the Buddhist new year celebrations on Thursday, bringing the country to a standstill for three days of ceremony, parties and water fights during the hottest time of the year.

AFP, July 29, 2008

HANOI, Vietnam -- Laos has halted plans for new hotels in the town centre of the ancient royal capital Luang Prabang after receiving a warning from UNESCO about its World Heritage status, media reported Tuesday.

Source: IRIN, 30 Jan 2007

VIENTIANE, Laos -- A unique outreach programme based on the teachings of Buddhism is playing a significant role in supporting those living with HIV/AIDS in Laos and other countries of the Mekong region - the Yunnan Province of southern China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

By Khan Sophirom, SEAPA, January 17, 2007

VIENTIANE, Laos -- Every morning at around six o’clock across this landlocked nation, Buddhist monks stream out of temples to receive ritual food offering from the people. By eleven a.m., the soft sound of the beating of drums alerts people to take food to the temples for the monks’ last meal of the day.